Courtney and Sev paid $14,500 for a wine-cellar installation reportedly valued at about $100,000, sparking questions about the show’s discount rules. Block legend Steph Ottavio has defended Courtney a...
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Courtney and Sev paid $14,500 for a wine-cellar installation reportedly valued at about $100,000, sparking questions about the show’s discount rules.
Block legend Steph Ottavio has defended Courtney and Sev against online attacks, warning the show’s judging is helping turn viewers against contestants.
The architect and 2023 champion said the pair had faced unfair personal criticism as their increasingly bitter rivalry with Adam and Jolene spilled into the final week.
But while she sided with their rivals over the design of their controversial wine cellars, Ms Ottavio said the judges were helping create a narrative that could make Courtney and Sev targets.
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She suggested the judges’ praise had put the pair on a pedestal while Australians were naturally inclined to support an underdog.
Her intervention follows Sunday’s backyard and garage reveal, when the rival teams tied on 34.5 points after unveiling competing wine cellars.
Courtney and Sev paid $14,500 for a curved installation reportedly worth about $100,000, while Adam and Jolene spent $20,000 on a design valued at about $45,000.
Ottavio defended Courtney and Sev against personal criticism, despite believing their rivals had delivered the stronger architectural design.
The Block current judges Photo: Nine – for Herald Sun Real Estate
The huge price difference sparked accusations that Courtney and Sev had exploited a loophole by classifying their cellar as bespoke artwork, exempting it from the show’s usual discount restrictions.
Host Scott Cam accepted that the installation qualified under the rules, but the decision failed to settle tensions between the teams.
The feud continued into the final week, with Sev confronting Jolene over the disputed pricing before the pair shared a hug.
Ms Ottavio said she understood why viewers might have different opinions about the designs, but warned that criticism had become too personal.
“I think that everyone has to remember that these people are people and it’s horrible to be on the other side of that,” she said.
Adam and Jolene’s $20,000 wine cellar won Steph Ottavio’s approval for its closer connection to the architecture of House 1.
Despite her defence of Courtney and Sev, the SJO Architects founder believed Adam and Jolene had delivered the stronger architectural result.
“I actually preferred Adam and Jolene’s,” Ms Ottavio said.
She said the straight lines of their installation better complemented the architecture of House 1, while Courtney and Sev’s curved design appeared less connected to the rest of their home.
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Courtney and Sev’s wine-cellar design became the centre of a bitter Block feud, with former winner Steph Ottavio questioning how the judges’ praise shaped public opinion.
Although she appreciated the latter as a standalone artwork, she believed the installation needed to work with the surrounding building rather than simply make a statement.
Her comments come as online discussions about Courtney and Sev have extended beyond the competition itself.
One Reddit discussion, attracting more than 100 upvotes, raised concerns about viewers mocking the contestants’ appearances and directing increasingly personal criticism at the pair.
The Block’s judging panel has come under fire from former winner Steph Ottavio, who believes its praise of certain contestants can influence how viewers treat rival teams. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Josie Hayden
Ms Ottavio said her own experience of negative commentary during her winning season alongside husband Gian had changed how she viewed such reactions.
She said supporters could sometimes become part of the problem by attacking other contestants in an effort to defend their favourites.
“That’s not the type of support that I want,” she said.
The Block 2023 winners Steph and Gian Ottavio experienced negative public commentary during their season, with Steph now urging fans to stop attacking contestants they dislike. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Josie Hayden
The former champion urged viewers to consider the people receiving the criticism, rather than treating contestants as characters who were fair game for personal attacks.
And she had one simple piece of advice for Courtney and Sev about dealing with hostile comments online.
“Don’t read anything,” she said.
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